Bonconto Commune is a

rural community Rural Sociologists have identified a number of different types of rural communities, which have arisen as a result of changing economic trends within rural regions of industrial nations. The basic trend seems to be one in which communities a ...

Bonconto Arrondissement Bonconto Arrondissement is an arrondissement of the Vélingara Department in the Kolda Region of Senegal. It is also spelled Bonkonto. Subdivisions The arrondissement is divided administratively into rural communities and in turn into villages ...

in the

Vélingara Department Vélingara is a city and urban commune situated in the Kolda Region of Senegal. It is located slightly north of the large 48 km Vélingara crater though the structure's impact origin is still unconfirmed.S. Wade, M. Barbieri, J. Lichtenegger (2 ...

, Kolda Region,

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

. It is also spelled Bonkonto. The commune is known as a major center of Shia Islam in Senegal and is home to the Al Hassanayni Grand Mosque of

Darou Hidjiratou Darou Hidjiratou (also spelled Darou Hijratou or Darou Idjiratou) is a village and zone in Bonconto Commune, Bonconto Arrondissement, Vélingara Department of Kolda Region in south Senegal. As a major center of Shia Islam in Senegal, it is home ...

, the largest mosque in the commune.

is significant as the birthplace of a prominent Shi'i Muslim family in

, which includes the village leader Cherif Habib Aidara (Chérif Habibou Aïdara) and his brother

Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara is a Senegalese-Mauritanian Shia religious leader who is known for his work on international development in West Africa. He is one of the primary Shia religious figures in Senegal and West Africa. Early life and family ...

, founder of the international NGO

Mozdahir Mozdahir (also known as the ''Mozdahir International Institute''; French name: Institut Mozdahir International, IMI or ''Institut international de Mozdahir'') is an international non-governmental organization based in Dakar, Senegal. Overview It ...

Demographics

Demographics of Bonconto Rural Community: *9,688 persons (year 2010) *5,416 (year 1988) 9 ethnic groups were counted in 2010, with

Fulani The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people are an ethnic group in Sahara, Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. Inhabiting many countries, they live mainly in West Africa and northern parts of Central Africa, South Sudan, Darfur, ...

making up most of the population. *Peul (

) (73%) * Manding (8%) *

Bassari The Bassari are an ethnic group who live primarily in Senegal, with some diaspora into Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. They are a matrilineal society stratified into different co ed social groups by age. The Bassari speak a Tenda language called ...

(6%) * Bambara (4%) *Remaining ethnic groups: Koniagui,

Diola The Jola or Diola (endonym: Ajamat) are an ethnic group found in Senegal, the Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. Most Jola live in small villages scattered throughout southern Senegal, especially in the Lower Casamance region. The main dialect of the J ...

, Mandiack, Diankhanké, Koroboro

Zones and villages

Zones and villages in Bonconto Commune:

Notable people

is significant as the birthplace of a prominent Shi'i Muslim family in

, including: *Chérif Habibou Aïdara, the local mayor *

, founder of the international NGO

(brother of Chérif Habibou Aïdara)

References

{{Reflist Kolda region Communes of Senegal